Endorsements: Democrats

Neal Allen, Portland, Executive Director, Greater Portland Council of Government

The Honorable Thomas Allen, Portland, Association Of American Publishers; Former U.S. Representative

Selectperson Judith Alton, Hartland, Chair of Selectboard, Town of Hartland

The Honorable Cushman Anthony, Falmouth, Former State Representative

Joan Archer, Great Pond, Clerk, Town of Great Pond

Meredith Ares, Searsport, Former Selectperson, Town of Searsport

“Our current system hasn’t been working for voters. In nine of the last 11 races for Maine’s governor, candidates were elected by less than half of voters. In five of those races, candidates were elected by less than 40 percent of voters.”

Mayor Walter Ash, Belfast, Mayor, Town of Belfast; Former State Legislator

"Maine has been a national leader in protecting and advancing cutting edge reforms to strengthen our democracy like clean elections and same-day voter registration​. Together, we can ​advance that tradition and make history this November by enacting the citizen initiative for Ranked Choice Voting to empower voters and restore majority rule."

Shenna Bellows, Manchester, Former Candidate for US Senate; Candidate for State Senate

The Honorable Seth Berry, Bowdoinham, Former State Representative

Councilor Patricia Blanchette, Bangor, Former Bangor Councilor; Former State Representative

The Honorable Michael Brennan, Portland, Former Mayor, City of Portland; Former State Representative

The Honorable Sheryl Briggs, Mexico, Candidate for State Representative; Former State Representative

The Honorable Tom Bull, Freeport, Former State Representative

Representative Christine Burstein, Lincolnville, State Representative

The Honorable Beverly Bustin-Hatheway, Hallowell, Kennebec County Register of Deeds; Former State Representative

James Buzzell, Leeds, Candidate for State Representative

Dorothy Caldwell, Penobscot, Candidate for State Representative

The Honorable Marilyn Canavan, Waterville, Former State Legislator

The Honorable Timothy Carter, Bethel, Former State Legislator

Mayor Alan Casavant, Biddeford, Mayor, City of Biddeford

The Honorable Katherine Cassidy, Lubec, Former State Representative

Selectperson Steven Chapin, Liberty, Selectperson, Town of Liberty

Representative Ralph Chapman, Brooksville, State Representative

Representative Justin Chenette, Saco, State Representative; Candidate for State Senate

Ben Chin, Lewiston, Political Director, Maine People's Alliance; Former Candidate for Mayor, City of Lewiston

Representative Ben Chipman, Portland, State Representative; Candidate for State Senate

The Honorable Herbie Clark, Millinocket, Former State Representative

The Honorable John Cleveland, Auburn, Former State Senator; Former Mayor, City of Auburn

Commissioner James Cloutier, Portland, County Commissioner, Cumberland County; Former Mayor of Portland

Jim Cohen, Portland, Former Mayor, City of Portland

The Honorable Joan Cohen, Portland, Former State Legislator

Councilor Linda Conti, Augusta, Councilor, Town of Augusta

“Ranked-choice voting more accurately reflects voters’ choices, will reduce the rancor in campaigns, and will result in candidates more inclined to work across the aisle”

Representative Janice Cooper, Yarmouth, State Representative

The Honorable Patsy Crockett, Augusta, Former State Legislator

Governor Kenneth Curtis, Leeds, Former Maine State Governor; Former Chair of the Maine Democratic Party

Harlan Cutshall, Falmouth, Ranked Choice Voting Supporter

“Frankly, at stake is the very integrity of our political system. We are facing a number of high-stakes problems that demand real leadership and accountability. Our future prosperity as a state demands a better system — a system where our elected officials receive the support of the majority, a system that discourages negative campaigning and a system that encourages thoughtful common sense governance of all. Ranked Choice Voting will accomplish this.”

The Honorable Dennis Damon, Trenton, Former State Senator

Treasurer Richard Davies, Hallowell, Former State Representative; Kennebec County Treasurer

Dale Denno, Cumberland, Candidate for State Representative

Representative Mick Devin, Newcastle, State Representative

The Honorable Cynthia Dill, Cape Elizabeth, Former State Representative

Councilor Brad Fox, South Portland, Councilor, City of South Portland; Candidate for State Representative

Selectperson Paul Frederic, Starks, Chair of Selectboard, Town of Starks

Councilor Gary Friedmann, Bar Harbor, Councilor, Town of Bar Harbor

Jonathan Fulford, Monroe, Candidate for State Senator

Selectperson Charlie Galemmo, North Berwick, Chair Selectboard, Town of North Berwick

Representative Sara Gideon, Freeport, State Representative

“After serious consideration, I believe that ranked choice voting is the most cost-effective solution to empower voters with real choice, ensure majority winners, end the question about spoilers, reduce negative advertising and increase civility between candidates.”

The Honorable Larry Gilbert, Lewiston, Former Mayor, City of Lewiston

"Ranked-choice voting is an efficient solution to a decades-old problem by instantly conducting a runoff when nobody wins with a majority."

Selectperson Arch Gillies, Islesboro, Selectperson, Town of Nobleboro

Representative Jared Golden, Lewiston, State Representative

Councilor Geoffrey Gordon, Orono, Councilor, Town of Orono

The Honorable Dick Gould, Greenville, Former State Representative

The Honorable Annie Graham, North Yarmouth, Former State Representative

“Second, our election outcomes should accurately reflect which candidate has the most support among voters. Ranked choice voting allows voters to indicate their first and second (or more) choices in an election. They can “vote their conscience” while knowing their choices will count and that the process will ensure that a majority of the voters prefer the winner. This system better reflects the will of the people in races with more than two candidates and is cost effective.”

Senator Chris Johnson, Somerville, State Senator

Representative Erik Jorgensen, Portland, State Representative

Councilor David Kee, Bucksport, Councilor, Town of Bucksport

The Honorable Peter Kent, Woolwich, Former State Representative

“What are the benefits of voting with a ranked-choice ballot? More power is put in the voter’s hands. Your voice is strengthened under the ranked-choice election process, and you never feel as if your vote is “wasted.” Like me, some of you would appreciate the freedom to vote for the candidate or candidates you like the best without worrying that you will help to elect an unappealing candidate.”

The Honorable Ted Koffman, Bar Harbor, Former State Representative

The Honorable Carol Kontos, Windham, Former State Representative

“I think it’s a great idea. Something like eight of our last governors have been elected without a majority vote. We get a much stronger government, and one that functions better, when there is a clear majority winner.”

Representative Walter Kumiega, Deer Isle, State Representative

The Honorable Karen Kusiak, Fairfield, Former State Representative

Representative Mike LaJoie, Lewiston, State Representative

Selectperson Emily Lane, Vinalhaven, Selectperson, Town of Vinalhaven

The Honorable Mark Lawrence, South Berwick, Former Senate President

The Honorable David Lemoine, Saco, Former State Representative; Former State Treasurer

Selecperson Bud Lewis, Nobleboro, Selectperson, Town of Nobleboro

Senator Nate Libby, Lewiston, State Senator

Selectperson Taylor Locke, Oakfield, Selectperson, Town of Oakfield

Representative Thomas Longstaff, Waterville, State Representative

The Honorable Jacqueline Lundeen, Mars Hill, Former State Representative

Councilor Jim Lysen, Lewiston, Councilor, City of Lewiston

Maeghan Maloney, Augusta, District Attorney, Kennebec County and Somerset County

The Honorable Boyd Marley, South Portland, Former State Representative

The Honorable Andrew Mason, Topsham, Former State Representative

“By restoring the Maine tradition of majority rule, our election process will be more civil and issue-oriented when candidates know they will need to be ranked and that those rankings will have an impact on the outcome of the race.”

Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio, Sanford, State Representative

Councilor David McAlpine, Baileyville, Councilor, Town of Baileyville

Councilor Dale McCormick, Augusta, Councilor, Town of Augusta; Former State Representative; State Treasurer

The Honorable Monica McGlocklin Blunt, Embden, Former State Representative

Commissioner Gary McGrane, Jay, County Commissioner, Franklin County

The Honorable Linda Mckee, Wayne, Former State Representative

Representative Andrew McLean, Gorham, State Representative

“If there was ever an election cycle that demonstrated the need for ranked choice voting, this is it. Too many people are torn between voting for a candidate they admire and voting against one they fear. Ranked choice voting, sometimes called instant run-off voting, allows people to vote their conscience and indicate their second choice and ensures that the winning candidate has a majority of votes.”

“Take a moment to examine Maine's unique political history--a state where it is commonplace to have three-way races for office. Currently, we are operating within an outdated, outmoded and inefficient electoral system that divides our government and exacerbates the culture of hyper partisanship that has plagued our politics for too long.”

The Honorable Merle Nelson, Cumberland Foreside, Former State Representative

The Honorable John Nutting, Leeds, Former State Senator; Former State Representative

Selectperson Frank Ober, Whitefield, Selectperson, Town of Whitefield

Bucky Owen, Orono, Former Commissioner, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

The Honorable Judy Paradis, Frenchville, Former State Senator

Councilor Patrick Paradis, Augusta, Councilor, Town of Augusta

The Honorable Ross Paradis, Frenchville, Former State Representative

Senator John Patrick, Rumford, State Senator

The Honorable Peggy Pendleton, Scarborough, Former State Senator

Representative Ann Peoples, Westbrook, State Representative

The Honorable Leila Percy, Warren, Former State Representative

“I strongly believe that we deserve to have leaders that represent a majority of the electorate. Yet over the last 40 years, 9 of the last 11 gubernatorial elections have put a governor in office without a majority vote. This is a problem for such an important position.”

The Honorable Anne Perry, Calais, Former State Representative

Councilor Joe Perry, Bangor, Former State Senator; Councilor, City of Bangor

Representative Matthew Peterson, Rumford, State Representative

The Honorable Wendy Pieh, Bremen, Former State Representative

Representative Teresa Pierce, Falmouth, State Representative

The Honorable Don Pilon, Saco, Former Mayor, Town of Saco; Former State Legislator

"I support Ranked Choice Voting because it gives Mainers a stronger voice in choosing their elected leaders and it ensures that voters get what they want on Election Day. By giving voters the power to rank candidates, Ranked Choice Voting encourages candidates to reach beyond their bases and appeal more broadly for support, thus making politicians more accountable to Mainers and less accountable to powerful political interests."

Represntative Chellie Pingree, North Haven, United States Congress

The Honorable Hannah Pingree, North Haven, Business Manager, Nebo Lodge; Former Speaker of the House

The Honorable John Piotti, Unity, Former State Representative and Majority Leader

Pam Plumb, Portland, Former Mayor, City of Portland; Former Councilor, City of Portland

The Honorable Elizabeth Schneider, Mactaggart, Winthrop, Former State Senator

The Honorable Thomas Shannon, Lewiston, Former State Representative

Representative Michael Shaw, Standish, State Representative

Bonnie Shulman, Auburn, Ranked Choice Voting Supporter

The Honorable Deborah Simpson, Auburn, Former State Senator

Commissioner Gary Sinden, Eliot, Commissioner, York County

The Honorable Larry Sirois, Turner, Former State Representative

Nathan Smith, Portland, Former Mayor, City of Portland

The Honorable Dick Spencer, Portland, Former State Representative

Councilor Ben Sprague, Bangor, Councilor, City of Bangor

Representative Stephen Stanley, Medway, State Representative

Councilor Marla Stelk, Gorham, Councilor, Town of Gorham

Selectperson Kelly Stewart, Sumner, Chair of Selectboard, Town of Sumner

Mayor Ethan Strimling, Portland, Mayor, City of Portland

Representative Peter Stuckey, Portland, State Representative

Councilor Ed Suslovic, Portland, Councilor, City of Portland; Former State Representative

Selectperson Patricia Sutherland, Chapman, Chair of Selectboard, Town or Chapman; Former State Representative

The Honorable Paul Tessier, Fairfield, Former State Representative

The Honorable Charles Theriault, Madawaska, Former State Representative

Councilor Jeffrey Thomson, Kittery, Chair, Kittery Town Council

Representative Ryan Tipping-Spitz, Orono, State Representative

The Honorable Bonnie Titcomb Lewis, Raymond, Former State Senator

The Honorable Dick Tracy, Rome, Former State Representative

The Honorable Sharon Treat, Hallowell, Former State Representative; Former State Senator

“We, as voters, have the power to change the way we elect our leaders. And if the mess in Augusta has taught us anything, it’s that change can’t come quickly enough. Ranked-choice voting is a better system, and I strongly urge voters to vote yes on Question 5 this November to adopt this reform for future elections.”

Mayor Bev Uhlenhake, Brewer, Mayor of Brewer

Senator Linda Valentino, Saco, State Senator

The Honorable David Van Wie, New Gloucester, Former State Representative